Dad Needs Help To Get Out Of Con Man's Grip

ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist

June 13, 2000|ANN LANDERS Syndicated Columnist

Dear Ann Landers: My sister and I need your help. Our 68-year-old alcoholic father has not been doing well since Mom died four years ago. Neither of us lives near him, but we try to keep in touch. Dad has befriended some real lowlifes, and we are concerned.

The first man was a paying boarder. In the six months he lived with Dad, he turned the house into a drug haven. In order to get rid of the guy, Dad had to call the police. The second man never paid rent. Then a new "friend" talked Dad into lending him $7,500. He left town the next day.

The current roommate is "Clyde," a 42-year-old man who has been living with Dad rent-free for almost a year. Clyde claims to have hurt his back, and says he cannot work.

Last month, Dad suffered a heart attack. Clyde brought Dad's checkbook to the hospital, and asked him to write a check for spending money. I was appalled.

Clyde is still living in Dad's house, running up his grocery bill, and using the telephone to make long-distance calls. Dad refuses to sign a power of attorney so my sister and I have no authority to throw Clyde out. We are worried sick. Is there anything we can do about this? -- Daughters in Turmoil

Dear Daughters: Your father needs help, and it's up to you to see that he gets it. Report his bizarre behavior to his doctor, and document Clyde's exploitative shenanigans. Move swiftly.

Dear Ann Landers: Our twin girls are now 18 months old. We have been dressing the girls alike, which is quite an attention-getter. I know you are a twin, and wonder how it was in your growing-up years. -- A Double Blessing, or Double Trouble?

Dear Double: Growing up a twin was fun, but we received entirely too much attention. We also had very blue eyes and very black hair, a startling combination. Mama dressed us alike, so, of course, we stood out wherever we went. She was an accomplished seamstress, and we had some wonderful-looking outfits. We were spoiled rotten. Naturally, we got into a great deal of mischief, because what one didn't think of, the other did. Example: One day, we found a pair of scissors and cut all the fringe off the living room rug.

If you are dressing your twin daughters alike, please stop it. Encourage individuality. Don't make showpieces out of your twins. And no blanket praise or punishment, please. Each twin should get whatever she has coming. Twins can be a double blessing OR double trouble. Good luck.